Locomotive stoker, including a peep sight



Aug. 15, 1950 w. 'r. HANNA LOCOMOTIVE STOKER, INCLUDING A PEEP SIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Nov. 8, 1945 I INVENTOR.

WILLIAM T. HANNA $2M HIS ATTZNEY w. T. HANNA 2,518,887

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER, INCLUDING A PEEP SIGHT Aug. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1945 FIG.Z

INVENTOR. WlLLIAM T. HANNA HIS AT RNEY Aug. 15, 1950 w. T. HANNA 2,513,387

- LOCOMOTIVE STOKER, INCLUDING A PEEP SIGHT Filed Nov. 8; 1945 v S -SheetS-Sheet 3 mmvroa. WILLIAM T. HANNA ORNEY Patented Aug. 15 1950 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER, INCLUDING A PEEP SIGHT William Thompson Hanna, Cincinnati, Ohio Application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,308

My invention relates to improvements in stoker apparatus and has to do, more particularly, with locomotive stokers for supplying a solid fuel, such as coal, to a locomotive firebox, through a firing opening in the back wall thereof, and including fuel distributing apparatus associated with said opening and a conduit system for delivering fuel to said distributing apparatus.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a locomotive stoker apparatus so constructed that the fireman, while seated on the firemans seat of the locomotive cab, may observe conveniently the flow of coal, delivered by the stoker apparatus, over the coal edge to the fuel distributing apparatus associated with the firing opening,

so as to make sure that the stoker is functioning properly.

'A further object of my invention is to provide means for enabling the fireman to observe the flow of coal over the coal edge, while seated on the firemans seat of the locomotive cab, which may be closed when not in use and which will prevent a flash-back in the firemans face, such as might be caused. by a sudden increase in pressure within the locomotive firebox, occasioned, for instance, by the bursting of a boiler tube.

' Furtherobjects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of manufacture,

will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention-by the devices and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in

which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a locomotive stoker embodying my invention, the back wall of the locomotive firebox being shown in vertical section along the longitudinal centerline of the firebox. Y

- Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view through a locomotive stoker embodying my invention, taken in the-vertical plane of the longitudinal center line of the locomotive firebox.

- Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the vertical relationship of the sight opening in the side wall of the door housing to the coal edge,

and to the line of sight from the eye of a fire-- man seated on the firemans seat of the locomotive cab to the point of intersection of the coal edge with the vertical plane containing the lon-- gitudinal centerline of the locomotive firebox;

7 Claims. (01. 110 105.5)

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating th horizontal relationship of the sight opening in the side wall of the door housing to the coal edge,

and to the line of sight from the eye of a fireman seated on the firemans seat to the point of intersection of said coal edge with the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the firebox.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the member con-; taining the sight opening and the closure there'- for, the latter being shown in closing position.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of said member and closure, with the latter shown in open position;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of said membe with the closure in the open position.

end elevation, and

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of'said member and Fig. 8 is a view of said member and closure in closure, taken looking at the opposite end thereof from that shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts, throughout the several views.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings, I have shown my invention embodied in a locomotive stoker apparatus that is mounted on the back wall In of a locomotive firebox, provided with a firing opening I l therein. A door housing i2 is secured to said back wall, surrounding saidfiring opening, and said housing is provided with the usual opening in the rear wall thereof, for use in hand firing, which is surrounded by a door plate 13, on which a door of the usual construction (not shown) is mounted. The stoker com- .prises a conduit section It, rigidly mounted on the back head [0 by means of a bracket l6, and to which an upper conduit section l5, forming a deliveryhead, is attached, which opens into the lower portion of the door housing [2. The coal is moved upwardly'in theconduit sections I4 and i5 bya rotatable conveyor screw l1. The coal, thus delivered into the lower portion of the door housing I2, flows to fuel distributing ap paratus associated with the firing opening I l, by

means of which the coal is distributed in the locomotive firebox. This fuel distributing apparatus includes a blast element [9 and a fuel dis-5 t'ributing plate 18. Adjustable gates 20 are provided, for regulating the fiow of fuel to the firebox, with the upper surfaces of the blast element l9 and the gates forming a fuel edge or surface 2] over which the fuel flows to the distributing plate l8, after being discharged from the screw conveyor.

The locomotive stoker apparatus; in which invention is embodied, is substantially that shown in my U. S. patent, No. 2,380,840, issued July 31, 1945, for Stoker apparatus. The blast element l9 may be such as described in my U. S. patent, No. 2,090,628, and the distributor plate l8 may be of the construction shown in my U. S. patent, No. 2,128,940.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided anpblongppeningfl, in the side wall of the doonhousing 12 that. is adjaaentthefiremans seat of the locomotive cab. A cup-shaped member 24 is integrally secured, as by welding, to the. outer surface of said side wall surroundingsaid opening 23. One wall 25 of the member 24, which may be considered the top thereof, lies in a plane 15 transverse to the line of sight.@extending..fmm-. the normal position of the eye ,of a firernan on the firemans seat of the locomotive cab to the point of intersection of the coal edge 2|;wiihtha. vertical plane containing the longitudinal centenlineof the Jocomotiyefirebox, This ,tQp Wall has an oblong sight, opening 25 therein, and the openin 23 -and sight opening 26 are so 10-. cated that thesaid line orsightextendsfrom the ner ipal-positionofthefiremans eye through said 25 opening to the midpoint of intersection of the coahedge 2 l with the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the firebox. Thus, thenreman may'observe thebflowof coal over the-coal edge, through. said.opening,; withoutleaving .hisposition pn, thesfiremans seat.

It: would be undesirable for this sight opening to remain open at all timesbecause a sudden increasein pressure within the firebox might-result in a flash- -back .of the fire in the firemans 5 face-for instance, upon the bursting ota boiler tube. Therefore, I have provided; closure-18 for thasight opening 26, which closure is: pivoted at one and, by means of-the, stud 21. carried bynthe' member 24 and extending'at right angles; to the 40, planeof the wall 25. A stud-30, having a flanged head 3l spaced fromthe wall 25;, is. mounted on; said member 24 at the opposite end of the open-, ing. 26;, and the closure 28 isprovidedwith a notch 29, ,which receivesthestud aniwnen. the closure-is.

in. thewclosing position. It will .be seen-that; whenthe closure is in.clo sing. position, a portion thereof .;is,.interpo sed. between. the .bod-y of the member 24. and the .flangedhead 3| oi-stud 30, sothat said flanged head 1 H, of stud.30 ,..and the pivot bolt2l, will resistany. pressure exerted on the. closure-.21 through the, openinglfifand tending to blow-the, closure back toward the. fireman. Member, 24, isprovidedwith a stud 3,2, which; is engagedby the closure 2B, in-its open position to.

the swinging,movementthereof. When the closure released .by the fireman, the, weight thereof will .carry it back the. :normal, closed. P95131 92? ItwilLbeIevidentthat, when-the fireman de-. GU siresto observetheflowof coaLoverv the coal edge, to,,the,. fuel..distributing apparatus, .he. ,may. be: so. easily. and conveniently, without leaving. his sea by -merely, swinging :the ,closure 28- ,to. the, open, position shown in Fig. 6-, and lookingthroughvthen sight opening. 26. and. opening 23 in,the-. doon .housingmlLto the pointofintersectionpfthe coal. edge with thevertical planecontaining; the.lpngi.-.. tudinal. centerline of the locomotive .firebox. When he hasiinished observing the fiowofcoal, l hereleases the closure 28. and, it;.is returned .autom et callrm h q e itiqnr Figs. 3'. and, ,4 show, in- ,diagrampiatic form, the. line of sight of a firemans eye 33 looking-along, the-line 3 ugh-the. c ntergof. the. sigh on ing 26. Fig. 3 shows the relation of the eye 33 to sight opening 26 as viewed looking from the firebox towards the rear of the locomotive. Fig. 4 shows the relation of the eye 33 to the sight opening 26 as viewed looking down towards the floor of the locomotive. It will be seen from these two views that the line of sight 34 passes through the central axis of the sight opening to the coal edge.

I am,aware ,that the structure shown herein is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention and, therefore, I have claimed my invention broadly, as, indicated by. the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a locomotive. stoker for supplying solid fuel to a firebox through a firing opening in the back-.-; walhthereof, including fuel distributing apparatus associated with said firing opening, means provided with a fuel edge overyvhich fuel flaws to-Saidfuel distributing apparatuaa con-- duit-system for delivering fuel to ,said fuel edge anda conveyor screw. rotatablein said'conduit.

system, a housing securedto said back-wall surrounding said firing opening and into which fuel is. delivered by said screw, said housing havinga sight opening in thetside wall thereof, the axisof said-sight opening intersecting thepoint of intersection of said fuel edgecand the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline .of

2.-.,In a locomotive stoker for Supplying, solid fueltoa fireboxthrough a firing opening in the back. wall thereof, including fuel-distributing apparatus associated with-said firing opening,

means provided with a fuel edge over whichiuelv flows, to said-fuel distributing. apparatus a conduit systemfor delivering fuel to said fueledge. and a conveyor screw rotatablein said conduit, system, the, combination of a housing securedto said back; .WalLSurrpunding said firingopening anddntolwhich fuel is delivered by saidscrew,.

and the. vertical plane containing thev longitudinalcenterline of the firebox.

3.;In a locomotive -stoker for supplyingsolidfueltoa firebox through a firingopening in the back; wall :thereof, including fuel distribnting apparatus; associated with saidnfiring opening, means provided with a fuel edge over which fuel flowsitosaidrfuel distributing/apparatus,7a com-1 duit system for delivering fuel to said fuel edge, ancha .conyeyor screw -.rota tab le in said conduit system the combination of i a housing secured to a dmackwall. s o n n s d inaopen e nd: n h; d rer dby; said s rew.. said housing having an opening therein in,the;

side: wall :thereof, a cup-shapedg-member secured to -said sideawall surrounding said opening and having one wall l-ying in a plane transversejto the axis of said housing; openingsaid-wall:ofsaidv membenhaying a sight. opening, therein, the; axis of said sight opening intersecti gwthe point of;

intersection of said -fuel edge: i and; the vertical plane containing the. longitudinalrcenterline ot;

4. 1m a locomotive :S Oker .zfqr ullfl i irfi d e r b xi ro s-ht firms: e in i he back w hereon, clu ing mekfih ributim;

apparatus associated with said firing opening, means provided with a fuel edge over which fuel flows to said fuel distributing apparatus, a conduit system for delivering fuel to said fuel edge, and a conveyor screw rotatable in said conduit system, the combination of a housing secured to said back wall surrounding said firing opening and into which fuel is delivered by said screw, said housing having a sight opening in the side wall thereof, a cup-shaped member secured to said side wall of the housing surrounding said opening therein and having a wall lying in a plane transverse to the axis of said sight opening, the axis of said sight opening intersecting the point of intersection of said fuel edge and the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the firebox, a closure for said sight opening pivotally mounted on said member to swing in a vertical plane about an axis transverse to the plane of said wall and having a notch in the free end thereof, and a shouldered stud secured to said member and adapted to be received in the notch of said closure, whereby, when the closure is in closing position, a portion thereof is interposed between the body of said member and the shoulder of said stud.

5. In a locomotive stoker for supplying solid fuel to a firebox through a firing opening in the back wall thereof, including fuel distributing apparatus associated with said firing opening, means provided with a fuel edge over which fuel flows to said fuel distributing apparatus, a conduit system for delivering fuel to said fuel edge, and a conveyor screw rotatable in said conduit system, the combination of a housing secured to said back wall surrounding said firing opening and into which fuel is delivered by said screw, said housing having an opening in the side wall thereof, a cup-shaped member secured to the side wall of said housing surrounding said opening therein and having one wall thereof lying in a plane transverse to the axis of said housing opening, said wall of said member being provided with a sight opening, the axis of said sight opening intersecting the point of intersection of said fuel edge and the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the firebox, a closure pivotally mounted on said member to swing in a plane parallel to said plane of said wall, about an axis perpendicular thereto, and a stop carried by said member for limiting the swinging movement of said closure away from closing position.

6. In a locomotive equipped with a firebox stoker which delivers coal from a source at the rear of the locomotive to a transverse distributing edge at the rear of the firebox, said delivery being made approximately along the longitudinal center line of the locomotive, the combination of a peep hole device adapted to be viewed from one side of the line of delivery of the coal, above it, and to the rear of the firebox, a housing surrounding the delivery end of the stoker, said housing having an aperture in the side wall thereof, the axis of said aperture intersecting the point of intersection of said distributing edge and the vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the firebox; a cup shaped member fastened to the housing, so as to surround the aperture and extending outwardly from said housing toward the viewing side, said cup shaped member having an aperture whose center is on the viewing line; and a cover for the sight aperture in the cup shaped member, said cover being pivoted to the cup shapedmember at one side and engageable with a stud in the other side so that the cover may be swung upwardly by the observer to an open position, but will fall back by gravity, when released, to closed position where it is held by the stud and by the pivot against any outward pressure originating in the firebox which would tend to blow it toward the viewing side.

'7. In a locomotive stoker for supplying solid fuel to a firebox having a back wall provided with a firing opening, a fuel distributing means disposed within the firing opening, a blast element disposed crosswise of the firing opening in a plane above and to the rear of the distributing means to provide a spillway over which the fuel is fed to the distributing means, a conduit arranged to direct the fuel to the blast element, a rotatable screw conveyor in said conduit to deliver the fuel therethrough and to cause same to flow over the blast element to the distributing means, and a door housing secured to the back Wall of the firebox and laterally surrounding the firing opening and blast element, said housing having a sight opening with its axis intersecting the point of intersection of the spillway and the vertical plane containing the centerline of the firebox.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,376,550 Kelley May 3, 1921 1,497,014 Hanna June 10, 1924 1,840,913 Myers Jan. 12, 1932 1,973,171 Jacobi Sept. 11, 1934 2,132,507 Baker Oct. 11, 1938 2.186374 Blizard Jan. 9, 1940 2,232,594 Dike Feb. 18, 1941 2,274,450 Kress Feb. 24, 1942 2,286,622 Jones June 16, 1942 2,387,133 Foster Oct. 16, 1945 

